Ugly buildings fuel loneliness epidemic, claims report

Experts have warned that the  UK “risks building its way into the social problems of the future”. A new report from think tank Centre for Social Justice claims that 49% of adults believe that architects and planners are “out of touch” with what local people want, with four  in 10 disagreeing that buildings are designed in way that encourages community spirit. The CSJ is calling on government to stop building “ugly” to regenerate Britain’s poorest areas and tackle the loneliness epidemic gripping the nation, claiming ministers should kick-start efforts to combat loneliness by prioritising developments that “reflect local definitions of beauty”. In the third instalment of the its Lonely Nation project, the CSJ argues that neglecting to “build beautiful” means people are unable to create meaningful connections and friendships in their local area, worsening feelings of alienation and unhappiness.  It is now calling on the government to deliver “thoughtful planning, with a renewed emphasis on placemaking that prioritises tackling loneliness and can revitalise community life in Britain, as well as tackle the housing crisis”.  The report says it is vital that loneliness is addressed in any new housebuilding programme as “loneliness is a public health emergency” with the effects of loneliness and social isolation being “comparable to smoking, obesity and physical inactivity”. The CSJ points to “a rich body of evidence that highlights the relationship between loneliness and the built environment” and the importance of design and access to green space.  Some 62% of adults surveyed by the CSJ said they felt they had no meaningful say in how their community changes and develops, while 49% said architects and planners were “out of touch” with what local people want. The report also looks at the impact of green spaces on loneliness. It found that 59% of respondents with access to green space never felt lonely, while 56% of those denied gardens and balconies did. Josh Nicholson, senior researcher at the Centre for Social Justice, said: “The government needs to ask itself: what legacy do we want to leave behind? The country urgently needs more homes, but this should not mean cutting corners, degrading the built environment or concreting over green community space. “Ministers must engage with the public’s concerns over ugly new development, or they risk worsening the social problems of the future, including loneliness.” He added: “Development is not just an economic issue, but involves the creation of happy, connected and stable communities. Architects and planners must avoid the mistakes of the past by prioritising beauty, design, and green space in the built environment.” In a foreword to the report, Labour MP Margaret Mullane and Create Streets director Nicholas Boys Smith wrote: “It is our responsibility today to build places today that contribute to happy, healthy, dignified and less lonely lives. “Thoughtful planning with a renewed focus on sustainable placemaking, built with people in mind, can restore the heart back to community life in Britain. The reimagining of placemaking with infrastructure and a sense of ‘the good society’ at its core must take centre stage. Otherwise, we risk building our way into the social problems of the future.”  Read the report in full >>